Hydraulic flush tank with improved seating and resealing means

ABSTRACT

A valve, plug and pressure responsive diaphragm combination for use in a flushing device of the type which includes a closed container for receiving and retaining a quantity of pressurized water. The plug is capable of being seated within the outlet of the tank and has an aperture therein into which the valve is slidably received. The valve is attached to a stem which in turn is affixed to the diaphragm. The valve is pushed downward from a seated position in the plug against the action of the diaphragm when the tank is flushed. This downward movement of the valve opens the aperture in the plug in which the valve was seated which decreases the pressure within the cylinder above the plug and causes the plug to move upwardly from its seated position in the tank outlet thus opening the outlet for the passage of water from the tank during the flushing cycle. As the tank empties, the plug, diaphragm and valve drop. The plug cannot move to a position lower than the seated position. However, when pressure in the tank is low, the valve can move in a downward direction from the seated position. Because the valve is free to move in a downward direction when the plug is seated, liquid can flow through the aperture in the plug to reseal a bowl after the tank has been flushed and the plug has been seated. To reseal the tank, the diaphragm responds to the pressure created by liquid coming into the tank, after the tank has been flushed, by rising and thereby slowly raises the valve until the valve is seated in the aperture in the plug.

United States Patent [191 Caron et a1.

[ June 18, 1974 HYDRAULIC FLUSH TANK WITH IMPROVED SEATING AND RESEALING MEANS [75] Inventors: Roger P. Caron, North Andover;

Thomas P. Howard, Ashland, both of Mass.

[73] Assignee: Water Control Products, Inc.,

Birmingham, Mich.

[22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 281,349

[52] U.S. Cl 251/38, 4/29, 4/30 [51] 1nt.C1..... F16k 31/38, E03d 3/02, F16k 21/18 [58] Field of Search 251/38, 44; 4/26, 28, 29,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,443,690 1/1923 Keating 251/38 2,502,262 3/1950 La Biche 4/26 3,114,532 12/1963 Gray et al..... 251/38 X 3,605,125 9/1971 Gibbs et al.... 4/26 3,677,294 7/1972 Gibbs et a1 4/26 X Primary ExaminerWilliam R. Cline Assistant Examiner--Gerald A. Michalsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kenway & Jenney [57] ABSTRACT A valve, plug and pressure responsive diaphragm combination for use in a flushing device of the type which includes a closed container for receiving and retaining a quantity of pressurized water. The plug is capable of being seated within the outlet of the tank and has an aperture therein into which the valve is slidably received. The valve is attached to a stem which in turn is affixed to the diaphragm. The valve is pushed downward from a seated position in the plug against the action of the diaphragm when the tank is flushed. This downward movement of the valve opens the aperture in the plug in which the valve was seated which decreases the pressure within the cylinder above the plug and causes the plug to move upwardly from its seated position in the tank outlet thus opening the outlet for the passage of water from the tank during the flushing cycle. As the tank empties, the plug, diaphragm and valve drop. The plug cannot move to a position lower than the seated position. However, when pressure in the tank is low, the valve can move in a downward direction from the seated position. Because the valve is free to move in a downward direction when the plug is seated, liquid can flow through the aperture in the plug to reseal a bowl after the tank has been flushed and the plug has been seated. To reseal the tank, the diaphragm responds to the pressure created by liquid coming into the tank, after the tank has been flushed, by rising and thereby slowly raises the valve until the valve is seated in the aperture in the plug.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHEU E BF 4 PATENTEDM Is 1914 v fcK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the present invention is liquid flushing assemblies. The present invention, more particularly, relates to a small compact water flushing assembly for rapidly discharging a quantity of water as a slug of water under pressure.

Because of the relatively large volume of water necessary to flush conventional gravity type toilets, a significant effort has been made in recent years to develop devices which enable gravity type toilets to operate effectively with reduced amounts of water.

One type of device which enables eflicient flushing with a fraction of the amount of water utilized by conventional gravity type toilets is a hydraulic toilet flushing device.

Hydraulic toilet flushing devices are very effective in that they can be flushed with a relatively small volume of water and have performance characteristics which are competitive with conventional gravity type toilets. Indeed, such devices are a significant breakthrough in the water closet art.

The present invention is directed to a new and improved seating and resealin g means for use in hydraulic toilet flushing devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a new hydraulic flush tank system with an improved seating and resealing device.

The device includes the combination of a pressure reincoming liquid, the valve is raised to reseal the tank.

The flush tank operates by pushing a button in a downward direction. To facilitate push button operation, the valve is connected to a button outside of the tank. When the button is pushed downwardly, the valve leaves its seated position in the plug thus opening the plug. When the plug is open, the pressure above the plug decreases which causes the plug to rise and expose the outlet in the tank.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hydraulic toilet.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cylinder associated with a hermetically sealed tank for holding an amount of liquid and compressed air, an outlet from the tank through the cylinder and 21 normally closed plug in the outlet which can be lifted by the action of a button.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic toilet which can be flushed by pressing a button.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cylinder associated with a hermetically sealed tank for holding an amount of liquid and compressed air, an outlet from the tank through the cylinder, a normally closed plug and a means for raising the plug to flush the tank, and a valve in conjunction with the plug which allows a quantity of water through the plug to reseal a bowl.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a closed tank or container for receiving pressurized water through a small inlet and discharging the water from an outlet relatively larger than the inlet under the control of a cylinder in which a plug is adapted to be moved from a seated position in the outlet for rapidly discharging a quantity of water.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved seating and resealing means for a hydraulic liquid discharging device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flushing device which operates efficiently with reduced amounts of liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hydraulic toilet including a tank having the improved seating and resealing means of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section of the tank of FIG. 1 showing the components of the improved seating and resealing means as they would be positioned when the tank is in a sealed and seated state ready for the commencement of the flush cycle;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the orientation of the various components of the seating and resealing means as they would be positioned at the beginning of the flush cycle;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the orientation of the various components of the seating and resealing means at a different time during the flush cycle; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the orientation of the various components of the seating and resealing means at a point in time during the refill cycle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates in general to liquid flushing devices and more particularly to hydraulic toilets for rapidly flushing water or other liquids from the tank and automatically refilling the tank.

Referring to FIG. 1, a hermetically sealed container or tank 10 is shown secured on a bowl 12 with a filler tube 14 connected through the bottom portion of the tank 10. It is to be noted that the tank 10 of the present invention is mounted in association with a toilet bowl 12. The tank 10 of the present invention, however, may be adapted to be mounted within a conventional toilet tank as a replacement for conventional flushing equipment.

In FIG. 2, a check valve assembly 16 is connected between a filler tube 14 and a conduit 18. Conduit 18 is connected to a source of pressurized water such as a typical source of city water with an average pressure which in most cases is in the order of thirty pounds per square inch or higher. An air vent tube 20 is equipped with a seat 22 in the bottom thereof with a check ball 24 loosely retained in the lower end portion of the tube by a pin 26. As is explained below, the air vent tube assembly is optional since the components within a cylinder 38 may function as a vacuum breaker in which case an air vent tube is unnecessary.

As is also shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of a cylin der 38 is vertically secured and sealed through tank 10 by means of threads 40. The lower end portion or output end portion of the cylinder 38 is also sealed into tank 10.

The improved seating and rescaling means of the present invention is contained within cylinder 38 and includes a plug 42 which is slidable within said cylinder. A seat 45 is formed on the bottom portion of cylinder 38. Plug 42 forms a herrnetical seal with seat 45 when plug 42 is in the seated position. The plug 42 has a central axial bore 44 at its upper end for slidably receiving a valve stem 46. Also formed in plug 42 are bores 47 which communicate with a chamber 49 in plug 42. Formed in the lower section of cylinder 38 are ports 50 which allow liquid contained in tank to flow into cylinder 38 and through opening 51 in the bottom thereof when plug 42 is in an upper position. It should be noted that prior to-commencement of the flushing cycle, plug 42 rests on a tapered shoulder or stop which forms the seat 45 on cylinder 38 (see FIG. 2).

On the bottom end of valve stem 46 is a fill valve 56 which is seatable in a fill valve seat 58 formed in plug 42. An O-ring 60, fitted on fill valve 56, provides a seal to prevent the passage of fluid through plug 42 when fill valve 56 is in the seated position.

The lower portion of fill valve stem 46 is screwably engaged with an upper portion thereof at about its middle. Fill valve stem 46 projects through a pressure responsive diaphragm 61 at point 63 where the upper and lower portions of valve stem 46 are screwed together. Diaphragm 61 has a hole formed therein that is sized so that the male member of the screw arrangement can pass through to join the female member, but the stem 46 itself cannot pass through the hole in diaphragm 61. By this arrangement, diaphragm 61 is rigidly secured to valve stem 46 so that vertical movement of valve stem 46 causes vertical movement of diaphragm 61 and vice versa. Diaphragm 61 is slidably retained within the cylinder and is slidably sealed thereto by a flexible rubber gasket 64.

On the bottom portion of diaphragm 61 is a retainer 62 which hermetically seals diaphragm 61 to gasket 64. The conbination of retainer 62, diaphragm 61 and gasket 64 hermetically seal the upper end of a chamber 66 within cylinder 38.

As is shown in the drawing, diaphragm 61 may have the configuration of a piston. Diaphragm 61, however, may be a simple plate. In this regard, it should be noted that the function of diaphragm 61 is to form a fluidtight movable ceiling on chamber 66.

A coil compression spring 48 is positioned within cylinder 38 so as to normally urge diaphragm 61 in a downward direction. Coil compression spring 48 is positioned about the valve stem 46 and is coaxial with it. The function of spring 48 is to retard upward motion of valve 56 so as to allow the passage of the amount of water required to reseal bowl 12 after the tank 10 has been flushed. A more detailed explanation of the function of spring 48 appears below.

To adjust the amount of water that will pass into the bowl to reseal the bowl after the tank has been flushed, the force exerted by coil spring 48 is adjustable. The adjusting means includes a member 65 having screwed threads 67 which are engaged with the upper portion of cylinder 38. Screw threads 67 enable member 65 to be turned and thus raise or lower member 65 to adjust the force or pressure exerted by spring member 48 against diaphragm 61. It should be noted that member 65 is inclusive of a stop 69 for engaging the upper end of spring 48. Formed within diaphragm 61 is a cylinder 71 for maintaining spring 48 in a proper orientation.

The uppermost end of valve stem 46 which protrudes through tank 10 has a push button affixed thereto.

As set forth above, tank 10 may also include an air vent tube 20. The purpose of the air vent tube 20 is to allow air into the tank, when required, and shut off the supply of air, at the appropriate time during the filling cycle, to permit liquid entering the tank to compress against air within the tank. The air vent tube also serves as a vacuum breaker to prevent liquid in bowl 12 from backing up into the tank when the tank is opened during the flush cycle.

In one embodiment of the invention, however, the function of an air vent tube is advantageously accomplished by a fluid passageway within valve stem 46. One or more apertures 90, formed in push button 70, communicate with the hollow interior of fill valve stem 46. Located on the bottom of fill valve 56 are other apertures (not shown) which also communicate with the hollow interior of fill valve stem 46. As is apparent, when the level of liquid in tank 10 is higher than ports 50, ambient air will be unable to enter tank 10. However, when the liquid level in tank 10 drops below the ports 50, air from outside of the tank will enter the tank and thus break the vacuum therein and supply the air that is necessary for incoming liquid to compress against.

OPERATION In order to flush tank 10, push button 70 is pushed downwardly in the direction of arrow 72 as is shown in FIG. 3. The downward movement of push button 70 is directly translated to fill valve 56 and causes fill valve 56 to move downwardly within chamber 49 of plug 42 as is shown by arrow 93. With valve 56 lowered from its normal seated position in plug 42, as is shown in FIG. 2, water 74 in chamber 66 flows through the plug as is shown by arrows 95. The release of liquid within chamber 66 causes the pressure within chamber 66 to decrease. The decrease in pressure within chamber 66 results in a pressure difference between chamber 66 and the remainder of tank 10. To equalize the pressure, fluid within tank 10 enters cylinder 38 through ports 50 and exerts an upward pressure as shown by arrow 97 against rims 96 on plug 42, which causes plug 42 to rise up in cylinder 38 to the position shown in FIG. 4.

With the plug in the position shown in FIG. 4, water in the tank exits therefrom through the tank outlet 51 as is shown by arrows 100 with a great surge due to the pressure within the tank which is represented by double-headed arrows 110. Since water 74 is under pressure, as is indicated by double-headed arrow 110, water 74 is actually forced through ports 50 and opening 51. The force of the insurge of pressurized water flowing from tank 10 into bowl 12 during the flushing cycle is dependent on the pressure within the tank, which in turn is dependent upon the pressure of the source of pressurized water which in most cases is in the order of thirty pounds per square inch or higher. Once plug 42 is raised and the pressure within the tank is reduced, water enters tank 10 through filler tube 14. Like other prior art hydraulic tanks, tank 10 is designed so that when the tank is flushed, water leaves the tankthrough outlet 51 much more rapidly than water enters the tank through filler tube 14.

As the water level in tank 10 drops during the flushing cycle, so does the pressure within tank 10. As the pressure within tank 10 drops, the pressure within chamber 66 of cylinder 38 also drops thus enabling spring 48 to extend and force diaphragm 61 downward. The cylinder and the tank empty rapidly because of the compressed air above the water. Eventually, due to the reduction of pressure within the tank and the force of gravity, plug 42 will drop until it comes to rest on seat 45 as is shown in FIG. 5. Thus, as is shown in FIG. 5, when the amount of water in tank 10 is at a low level, the force of gravity will seat plug 42 on seat 45. However, because the pressure exerted by spring 48 exceeds the pressure within tank 11), at this point in the cycle, diaphragm 61 is extended to the position shown in FIG. which in turn results in fill valve 56 being positioned below its seated position. With fill valve 56 below its seated position, water entering tank via filler tube 14 passes through ports 50 into chamber 66 and through plug 42, as is shown by arrow 150 in FIG. 5, to reseal bowl 12 after the bowl has been flushed.

Some water entering tank 10 via filler tube 14 enters chamber 66 and causes an upward pressure to be exerted on diaphragm 61 as is shown by arrow 80. Because liquid flows into tank 10 via filler tube 14 faster than it can exit via the route shown by arrow 150 in FIG. 5, pressure builds up within chamber 66 which causes diaphragm 61 to rise, which in turn causes fill valve 56 to rise with it.

Diaphragm 61 continues to rise until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 2 at which point fill valve 56 is seated in fill valve seat 58 and the tank is resealed and ready for further use. Of course, with filler tube 14 connected to a source of pressurized water and with check valve assembly 16 open to permit the water to flow through tube 14 into tank 10, the ball 24 responding to displace air will seat and hermetically seal the tank, which will fill with water against the compression of air above the water to establish an equilibrium condition as is represented by FIG. 2 of the drawing. Once a pres sure equilibrium is established, water will not enter tank 10 until the pressure within tank 10 is lower than the pressure of the source of pressurized water which, of course, happens to the pressure in the tank when the tank is flushed.

As has been explained above, as the level of water in tank 10 drops during the flushing cycle, so does the pressure within tank 10. The initial drop of pressure within cylinder 38 causes plug 42 to rise therein. Thereafter, as the pressure and water level drop within tank 10, plug 42 drops.

Of course, while the tank is emptying in the manner described above, water is entering the tank because filler tube 14 is connected to a source of water. Water rising in the tank will hermetically seal the tank which will continue to fill with water against the compression of air above the water and thus establish an equilibrium condition.

After the tank has been flushed and before valve 56 is fully seated, some water entering tank 10 via filler tube 14 enters chamber 66 and causes an upward pressure to be exerted on diaphragm 61 which eventually seats valve 56. The assembly within cylinder 38 is designed so that liquid flows into tank 10 via filler tube 14 faster than it can exit through the opening in plug 42 6 which results from the unseated valve. This arrangement causes pressure to build up within chamber 66 to seat valve 56 and thereby seal the tank.

Thus, by following the teachings of the present invention, improved seating and resealing of hydraulic liquid discharging devices results.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

We claim:

1. An assembly for filling and discharging a liquid from a hermetically sealed tank of the type which includes a liquid inlet in fluid communication with the tank for introducing a liquid under pressure into the tank comprising a. a cylinder in fluid communication with the tank having an outlet in the lower portion thereof with an aperture in said cylinder to provide a passageway for liquid in the tank to said outlet,

b. a seat in said cylinder for receiving a plug,

c. a hollow plug movably positioned within said cylinder for sealing said outlet when said plug is seated in said seat, said plug having upper and lower openings therein to allow a fluid to flow through said plug and out said outlet,

d. a valve movably positioned within the hollow portion of said plug for closing said upper opening in said plug to stop fluid flow through the plug, said valve permitting the pressure within said cylinder to be decreased when said plug is seated in said seat in said cylinder and said valve is moved to a position where said upper opening is open by allowing fluid within the cylinder to flow through the plug and out the outlet,

e. force means tending to urge said valve away from said upper opening in said plug when the force exerted by fluids under pressure in the cylinder is less than the force exerted by said force means,

f. means for seating said plug in said outlet as the tank is being filled with a liquid,

g. means for moving said valve away from said upper opening in said plug when said plug is seated in said seat in said cylinder to open said upper opening to decrease the pressure within said cylinder and allow the plug to move from its seated position and permit the liquid in the tank to be discharged by passing through said aperture and out said outlet, and

h. a pressure responsive diaphragm secured to said valve and movably sealed to said cylinder which forms a fluid tight ceiling over that portion of liquid in the tank that is in said cylinder, said pressure responsive diaphragm acting as a means for seating said valve in said upper opening in said plug against the action of said force means to allow pressure to increase within the tank when the tank is being filled with a liquid and to prevent liquid in the tank from passing through said plug when said plug is seated in said seat in said cylinder.

2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cylinder extends through the tank.

3. The assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said force means is a spring which constantly urges said force exerted by said spring is adjustable to control the amount of liquid that will flow through said openings in said plug and out the outlet before said valve is reseated in said plug after liquid in the tank is discharged.

7. The assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said spring exerts a force that is not greater than the force exerted by the liquid under pressure in the tank.

8. The assembly as set forth in claim 7 including a stem, one end of which is connected to said valve, the

other end of which extends through said cylinder. 

1. An assembly for filling and discharging a liquid from a hermetically sealed tank of the type which includes a liquid inlet in fluid communication with the tank for introducing a liquid under pressure into the tank comprising a. a cylinder in fluid communication with the tank having an outlet in the lower portion thereof with an aperture in said cylinder to provide a passageway for liquid in the tank to said outlet, b. a seat in said cylinder for receiving a plug, c. a hollow plug movably positioned within said cylinder for sealing said outlet when said plug is seated in said seat, said plug having upper and lower openings therein to allow a fluid to flow through said plug and out said outlet, d. a valve movably positioned within the hollow portion of said plug for closing said upper opening in said plug to stop fluid flow through the plug, said valve permitting the pressure within said cylinder to be decreased when said plug is seated in said seat in said cylinder and said valve is moved to a position where said upper opening is open by allowing fluid within the cylinder to flow through the plug and out the outlet, e. force means tending to urge said valve away from said upper opening in said plug when the force exerted by fluids under pressure in the cylinder is less than the force exerted by said force means, f. means for seating said plug in said outlet as the tank is being filled with a liquid, g. means for moving said valve away from said upper opening in said plug when said plug is seated in said seat in said cylinder to open said upper opening to decrease the pressure within said cylinder and allow the plug to move from its seated position and permit the liquid in the tank to be discharged by passing through said aperture and out said outlet, and h. a pressure responsive diaphragm secured to said valve and movably sealed to said cylinder which forms a fluid tight ceiling over that portion of liquid in the tank that is in said cylinder, said pressure responsive diaphragm acting as a means for seating said valve in said upper opening in said plug against the action of said force means to allow pressure to increase within the tank when the tank is being filled with a liquid and to prevent liquid in the tank from passing through said plug when said plug is seated in said seat in said cylinder.
 2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cylinder extends through the tank.
 3. The assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said force means is a spring which constantly urges said valve downward and out of a valve seat formed in said plug.
 4. The assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said aperture in said cylinder is positioned so that liquid passing through said cylinder exerts an upward pressure on said plug after said valve is moved away from said upper opening.
 5. The assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plug has rims designed to respond to the force exerted by liquid in the tank.
 6. The assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the force exerted by said spring is adjustable to control the amount of liquid that will flow through said openings in said plug and out the outlet before said valve is reseated in said plug after liquid in the tank is discharged.
 7. The assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said spring exerts a force that is not greater than the force exerted by the liquid under pressure in the tank.
 8. The assembly as set forth in claim 7 including a stem, one end of which is connected to said valve, the other end of which extends through said cylinder. 